Many Commedia dell Arte troupes were well known groups that travelled throughout Europe, performing for a variety of audiences. From entertaining royalty, to setting up on the streets, actors were versatile, and through constant exposure and talent, became well known across the continent.
A large quantity of different groups existed throughout the years, each containing similar characters. Many actors from the period can be found in records placing them as part of multiple groups throughout the years. The constant migration of actors, as well as occasionally collaboration between groups was far from uncommon.
The Gelosi "Virtú, Fama ed Honor ne fêr Gelosi" Virtue, honor, and renown are only for the jealous.
1568-1604 Various Cast
Francesco Andreini
Capitano Spavento di Vall' Inferna
Giulio Pasquati
Pantalone
Lodovico de Bianchi
II Dottore Graziano
Simone Basilea
Zanni
Gabriele
Francatrippe
Oración de Nobili
Innamorati
Adriano Valerini
Innamorati
Isabella Andreini
Prima Donna
Prudenzia
Segunda Donna
Silvia Roncagili
Franceschina
Giorlano Salimbeni
Zanobio
Vittoria Piissimi
Prima Donna (Original)
Best known for: Being the first group to be sponsored by nobility
The Confidenti "I Comici Confidenti" Confident Comics 1574-1599 Various Cast
Battista Vannino da Riminio
Zanni
Fabrizio de Fornaris
Il Capitano Coccodrillo, hijo d'el Colonel don Calderon de Berdexa, Herman d'el Alferez Hernandico Mandrico de strico de Lara da Castilla la vieja, cavallero de Sevilla, hijo d'Algo verdardero, trinchador de tres cuchillos, ...
Bernardino Lombardi
Dottore Lanternone
Tristano Martinelli
Unknown
Drusiano Martinelli
Unknown
Gabriele Panzanini
Francatrippa
1611-1639
Flaminio Scala
Flavio
Ottavio Onorati
Mezzetino
Maria Antonazzoni
Lavinia
Valeria Austoni
Valeria
Domenico Bruini
Fulvio
Francesco Antonazzoni
Ortensio
Marcantionio Romagnsese
Pantalone
Niccolo Barbieri
Beltramo
Best known for: Frequent squabbling and arguments amount the performers The Uniti "Uniti Comici" United Comics
1578-1640 Various Cast
Bernardino Lombardi
Il Dottore
Gabriele Panzanini
Francatrippa
Girolamo Salimbeni
Piombino
Vittoria Piissimi
Innamorata
Jacomo Braga
Pantalone
Domenico de Negri
Curzio
Sylvio Fiorillo
Capitano Matamoros
Giovan Battista
Scaramouche
Andre Fraiacomi
Trivellino
Ippoloito Mendeni
Cortelazzo
Andrea Mangii
Adriano
Michel Zanardi
Graziano
Ottavio Bernardino
Franceschina
The Accessi The Inflamed
1590-1628
Various Cast
Pier Maria Cecchini
Fritellino
Orsola Cecchini
Flaminia
Gerolamo Garavini
Capitano Rinoceronte
Drusiano and Tristano Martinelli
Arlecchino
Federico Ricci
Pantalone
Giovanni Pellesini
Pedrolino
Bartolomeo Bongiovanni
Graziano
(Federico Ricci's son)
Leandro
Giovanni Battista Andreini
Lelio
Baldo Rotari
Lelio
Virginia Andreini
Florinda
Lidia Rotari
Florinda
Were preferred by King Henri IV. Tristano Martinelli was so well liked by the king he was practically the "Certified Fool"
Modern Day
Faction of Fools is a present day theatre company based in Washington DC that works to share the history of commedia, as well as continue the art form.
By. “Commedia dell'arte Conventions.” The Drama Teacher, www.thedramateacher.com/commedia-dellarte-conventions/.
DeLisa, Antonio. “La Commedia dell’Arte.” In Poesia - Filosofia delle poetiche e dei linguaggi, 10 July 2017, inpoesia.me/2017/07/10/la-commedia-dellarte/.
“Faction of Fools | DC's Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Company.” Faction of Fools, www.factionoffools.org/.
Rudlin, John, and Olly Crick. Commedia dellarte: a handbook for troupes. Routledge, 2001.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Commedia dell'arte.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 Apr. 2017, www.britannica.com/art/commedia-dellarte.
Many Commedia dell Arte troupes were well known groups that travelled throughout Europe, performing for a variety of audiences. From entertaining royalty, to setting up on the streets, actors were versatile, and through constant exposure and talent, became well known across the continent.
A large quantity of different groups existed throughout the years, each containing similar characters. Many actors from the period can be found in records placing them as part of multiple groups throughout the years. The constant migration of actors, as well as occasionally collaboration between groups was far from uncommon.
The Gelosi
"Virtú, Fama ed Honor ne fêr Gelosi"
Virtue, honor, and renown are only for the jealous.
1568-1604
Various Cast
The Confidenti
"I Comici Confidenti"
Confident Comics
1574-1599
Various Cast
The Uniti
"Uniti Comici"
United Comics
1578-1640
Various Cast
The Accessi
The Inflamed
1590-1628
Various Cast
Modern Day
Faction of Fools is a present day theatre company based in Washington DC that works to share the history of commedia, as well as continue the art form.
Faction of Fools Trailer
Works Cited
By. “Commedia dell'arte Conventions.” The Drama Teacher, www.thedramateacher.com/commedia-dellarte-conventions/.
DeLisa, Antonio. “La Commedia dell’Arte.” In Poesia - Filosofia delle poetiche e dei linguaggi, 10 July 2017, inpoesia.me/2017/07/10/la-commedia-dellarte/.
“Faction of Fools | DC's Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Company.” Faction of Fools, www.factionoffools.org/.
Rudlin, John, and Olly Crick. Commedia dellarte: a handbook for troupes. Routledge, 2001.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Commedia dell'arte.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 Apr. 2017, www.britannica.com/art/commedia-dellarte.